Previous researches showed that fatty acids analysis might be a useful tool to support the taxonomic investigation. In this approach the fatty acids content of ten Malvoideae species was analyzed and its chemotaxonomic significance has been investigated. The aerial parts of the species were collected in the Northeast of Brazil and their fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. The chemometric analysis consisted of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) with the euclidean distance between the samples given by the Ward.D2 algorithm. This is the first report of fatty acids from Wissadula peripocifolia, Herissantia crispa, Bakeridesia pickelii, Sidastrum micranthum, Pavonia cancellata and Pavonia malacophylla. The results showed the predominance of palmitic (C16:0), oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids in the studied species. By the PCA and HCA analysis, the fatty acid composition was able to distinguish the species Herissantia crispa and Pavonia malacophylla. Our findings showed a chemotaxonomic proximity among species from different genera reflecting the taxonomic and phylogenetic closeness previously demonstrated by molecular investigations on Malvoidae species. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the fatty acid analysis may be an interesting tool to support the taxonomic investigations on Malvoideae species.

A phytochemical investigation from aerial parts of Casearia arborea (Rich.) Urb. (Salicaceae) led to isolation and identification of: sitosterol, 4-en-stigmast-3-one, 13-hydroxy-trans-ent-cleroda-3,14-diene,3-hydroxy-2-oxo-trans-ent-cleroda-3,14-diene (kolavelone), a mixture of 13-hydroxy-trans-ent-cleroda-3,14-diene and an ester ethyl hexadecanoate, kaempferol-3-O-a-L-arabinofuranoside and 4',5,7-trihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyflavone (tricin). The compounds have been described for the first time in this species. Five trihydroxy-flavone-hexoside derivatives have been identified by LC-ESI-HR-MS. The antimicrobial activity of kolavelone was evaluated against strains of Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Shigella and Candida spores, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The results showed the antimicrobial activity of kolavelone against several bacteria and Candida tropicalis indicating its potential use as antimicrobial agent.

The simultaneous screening of multiple enzyme activities in a single assay has numerous advantages over the traditional format, since it decreases sampling errors, allows savings in reagents and consumables and reduces the time and labor required to conduct the assays. In the present study, a direct and sensitive assay for the simultaneous detection of epoxide hydrolase and esterase (or lipase) activities was developed. Signal overlap is avoided by synthesizing fluorogenic probes with enzyme-specific alkyl linkers, connected to different fluorophores (resorfurin and umbelliferone), which exhibit emission spectra at different wavelengths. The simultaneous assays were conducted in microplate format with the fluorogenic probes monitored in the same well that uses microorganisms as enzyme source. Our results show that the fluorescent signal from each of the probes used here can be discriminated, allowing multiple enzyme activity detection and quantitation.

Três novos compostos: dois flavonóides [(S)-8-formil-3',5-diidroxi-7-metoxi-6-metilflavanona(1) e 3'-formil-3,4',6'-triidroxi-2'-metoxi-5'-metilchalcona (2)] e um fenilpropanóide [3,4-metilenodioxi-5-metoxi-7,8-diidrocinamato de etila (3)] foram isolados dos ramos secos de Piper montealegreanum. As estruturas desses compostos foram estabelecidas através das técnicas espectroscópicas UV, IV, EM e RMN (¹H e 13C, 1D e 2D), além da interpretação dos dados de RMN de ¹H e 13C dos derivados metilados dos compostos 1 e 2.

Three new compounds: two flavonoids [(S)-8-formyl-3',5-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-6methylflavanone (1) and 3'-formyl-3,4',6'-trihydroxy-2'-methoxy-5'-methylchalcone (2)] and one phenylpropanoid [ethyl 3,4-methylenedioxy-5-methoxy-7,8-dihydrocinnamate (3)] were isolated from dried branches of Piper montealegreanum. Their structures were established by UV, IR, MS, 1D and 2D (¹H and 13C) NMR spectroscopic techniques, besides interpretation of spectral data (¹H and 13C NMR) of methylated derivatives of 1 and 2 compounds.

Os flavonóides 5,3’,4’-triidroxi-7-metoxiflavona, 5,3’-diidroxi-7-4’-dimetoxiflavona, 5,4’-diidroxi-7-metoxiflavona e uma mistura de esteróides (β-sitosterol e estigmasterol) foram isoladas das partes aιreas de Piper carniconnectivumC.DC, Piperaceae. As estruturas desses compostos foram estabelecidas por análises espectroscópicas de UV, IV e RMN de ¹H e 13C, incluindo técnicas uni e bidimensionais.

The flavonoids 5,3’,4’-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, 5,3’-dihydroxy-7-4’-dimethoxyflavone, 5,4’-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone and steroids mixture (β-sitosterol and stigmasterol) were isolated from the dried aerials parts of Piper carniconnectivumC.DC. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analyses (UV, IV and ¹H, 13C NMR, including 1D and 2D NMR).

Neste estudo, tentamos identificar a atividade antinociceptiva do extrato metanólico bruto e das fases n-butanólica, clorofórmica e acetato de etila provenientes da alga Caulerpa racemosa. Esta alga é cosmopolita no mundo, principalmente em regiões tropicais. O extrato metanólico bruto e as fases n-butanólica, clorofórmica e acetato de etila foram administrados por via oral, na concentração de 100 mg/kg. Estes foram capazes de reduzir a nocicepção produzida pelo ácido acético, sendo 47,39%, 70,51%, 76,11% e 72,24%, respectivamente. No ensaio da placa quente as fases clorofórmica e acetato de etila foram ativas neste modelo. Na fase neurogênica do teste de formalina, foi observado que o extrato metanólico bruto (51,77%), fase n-butanólica (35,12%), fase clorofórmica (32,70%) e indometacina (32,06%) foram eficazes em inibir a resposta nociceptiva. Na fase inflamatória, apenas a fase acetato de etila (75,43%) e indometacina (47,83%) foram capazes de inibir significativamente a resposta nociceptiva. Com base nestes dados, podemos sugerir que o a fase acetato de etila apresenta um significativo efeito anti-inflamatório, cuja potência ainda não foi determinada. No entanto, estudos farmacológicos e químicos serão necessários, a fim de caracterizar o mecanismo responsável pela ação antinociceptiva e também para identificar outros princípios ativos presentes na alga Caulerpa racemosa.

In this study, we attempted to identify the possible antinociceptive actions of n-butanolic phase, chloroformic phase, ethyl acetate phase and crude methanolic extract obtained from Caulerpa racemosa. This seaweed is cosmopolitan in world, mainly in tropical regions. The n-butanolic, chloroformic, ethyl acetate phases and crude methanolic extract, all administered orally in the concentration of 100 mg/kg, reduced the nociception produced by acetic acid by 47.39%, 70.51%, 76.11% and 72.24%, respectively. In the hotplate test the chloroformic and ethyl acetate phase were activite in this models. In the neurogenic phase on formalin test, were observed that crude methanolic extract (51.77%), n-butanolic phase (35.12%), chloroformic phase (32.70%) and indomethacin (32.06%) were effective in inhibit the nociceptive response. In the inflammatory phase, only the ethyl acetate phase (75.43%) and indomethacin (47.83%) inhibited significantly the nociceptive response. Based on these data, we can infer that the ethyl acetate phase shows a significant anti-inflammatory profile, whose power has not yet been determined. However, pharmacological and chemical studies are continuing in order to characterize the mechanism(s) responsible for the antinociceptive action and also to identify other active principles present in Caulerpa racemosa.

O extrato mote obtido de folhas e caules de Mikania Amitacina DC foi submetido ao teste de atividade antimicrobiana pela técnica de diluição seriada frente à S.aureus ATCC 6538, E. coli ATCC l0536 , C. atbicanz ATCC 10321 e A. niger ATCC 16404. 0 extrato foi ativo contra S. aureus, sendo a concentrção inibitória mínbima (bacteriostática) igul a 10 mg/mL. Pela avaliação usando a técnica de difusão em gel, e extrato, mesmo na concentraçao de 60 mg/mL não apresentou atividade inibitótia de crescimento de S. aureus. Da mesma forma, o ácido caurenóico presente no extrato nao apresentou atividade biológica in vitro, indicando ser o efeito avaliado pela técnica anterior devido a presença de outro (s) compostos (s) do extrato mole.

Semi-liquid extracts obtained from leaves and stems of Mikania smilacina DC has been tested for their antimicrobial activity utilizing the serial dilution technique against S. aureus ATCC 6538, E. coli ATCC 10536, C. albicans ATCC 20321 e A. niger ATCC 16404. The results revealed that the extract showed activity against S. aureus and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) being 10mg/mL. Utilizing the gel diffusion technique the extract even on 60mg/mL concentration showed no growth inhibitory activity against S. aureus.